Michael Moorer, a former heavyweight champion, has made a surprising revelation about the hardest puncher he's faced in the ring. In a recent interview with Ring Magazine, Moorer claimed that David Tua hit harder than both George Foreman and Evander Holyfield, despite being knocked out by the latter two.
Moorer, known as "Double M," won the world heavyweight championship three times in six years. He also held the WBO light heavyweight title in the late 1980s. At 57 years old, the New York native has shared his experiences with some of boxing's biggest hitters.
George Foreman, nicknamed "Big George," is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. He's famous for his thunderous punching power, which led to 68 knockouts in his 76 victories. Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield, on the other hand, was the undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, and the only four-time heavyweight champion.
Despite the reputations of Foreman and Holyfield, Moorer singled out David Tua as the hardest hitter. Tua, a Samoan-New Zealander, is often considered one of the best heavyweights to never win a world title. His career highlight came in November 2000 when he unsuccessfully challenged Lennox Lewis for the world heavyweight championship.
Moorer explained his reasoning in the interview:
"David Tua. There was a lot of big punchers. Francois Botha hit hard. Foreman hit hard – at that time he caught me with a good punch. Holyfield hit hard. Anyone, if they get hit the right way, will go."
He went on to describe what made Tua's power stand out:
"Tua knew how to deliver the power, being more flatfooted than being on his toes and being that he kept a fist."
It's worth noting that when Holyfield and Foreman faced each other in 1991, neither man's power forced an early finish. Holyfield won that bout by unanimous decision.
The 1990s were a golden era for heavyweight boxing, with Moorer, Foreman, Holyfield, and Tua all making their mark. Holyfield's reign as undisputed champion took place during the 'three belt era,' adding to the significance of his achievements.
Moorer's statement sheds new light on the punching power of these heavyweight giants. It serves as a reminder that in boxing, sometimes the hardest hitters aren't always the ones with the most famous knockouts.
